Submersible power plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a submersible power plant. The power plant comprises a structure and a vehicle. The vehicle is arranged to be secured to the structure by means of at least one tether. The vehicle is arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by means of a fluid stream passing the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a first wing and a second wing, where the first wing is arranged at a first distance D 1 from the second wing in a longitudinal direction, and the first wing is arranged at a second distance D 2 from the second wing in a lateral direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A submersible power plant, comprising:
 a structure; and 
 a vehicle, the vehicle being arranged to be secured to the structure by at least one tether; the vehicle being arranged to move in a predetermined trajectory by a fluid stream passing the vehicle, the vehicle being positioned in a reference frame with a first extension along an x-axis of the reference frame and a second extension along a y-axis of the reference frame, 
 where the x-axis runs in a direction from a rear of the vehicle to a front of the vehicle, and the y-axis runs in a direction perpendicular to the x-axis from a bottom of the vehicle to a top of the vehicle, 
 the vehicle comprises a first wing and a second wing, where the first wing is arranged at a first distance above the second wing along the y-axis, and the first wing is arranged at a second distance in front of the second wing along the x-axis, and the vehicle comprises a nacelle comprising a generator, the nacelle being attached to a turbine, where the nacelle is positioned between the first wing and the second wing. 
 
     
     
       2. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein a first right end of the first wing and a second right end of the second wing are connected by a first hydrodynamic element, and a first left end of the first wing and a second left end of the second wing are connected by a second hydrodynamic element, the first wing and second wing thereby forming a closed wing. 
     
     
       3. The submersible power plant according to  claim 2 , wherein the hydrodynamic elements are hydrodynamically shaped. 
     
     
       4. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing and the second wing have the same shape. 
     
     
       5. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing and the second wing have different shapes. 
     
     
       6. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing and the second wing have the same planform area. 
     
     
       7. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wing and the second wing have different planform areas. 
     
     
       8. The submersible power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein a pitch angle of the first wing and the second wing can be adjusted relative to each other. 
     
     
       9. The submersible plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the tether is attached to the vehicle by struts, wherein front struts are attached to the first wing and a rear strut is attached to the second wing.